Improvement in portable sewing work-cases



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. BURGESS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE SEWING WORK-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,813, dated April 1, 1862.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS I-I. BUEGEss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Portable Folding Work-Oase for the Use of Travelers, Soldiers, or other Persons; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, of Which- Figure l denotes a top view, and Fig. 2a longitudinal section, of the said article as open. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of its metallic spool-case and the spools thereof.

In such drawings, A exhibits an elongated metallic case divided into two compartments d b by a transverse partition c. One of the said compartmentsviz., a-is open and provided with a cover d for closing the opening. The other compartment is open, as shown in the drawings, and is intended to contain an arbor or Wire e, which should extend from end to end of the compartment and carry or serve to support one or more spools g h, arranged Within the compartment, and so as to be capable of freely rotating on the said arbor. The said metallic case A is to be afixed to a flexible flap B in such manner as to enable the latter to be wound. around the case sufficiently to cover or more than cover the opening of the case. The inner surface of the said flap should have a scissors-sheath O and one or more sets of cloth leaves D D affixed or applied to it, in order that a pair of scissors may be held to the cover and needles and pins may be inserted in the leaves D D. The iap may also be supplied with loops E E for supporting skeins of thread of dierent colors or pieces of tape.

The drawings exhibit two spools as applied to the arbor, one spool being much longer than the other, the longer one being intended to hold Woolen yarn, which is to be Wound about the spool, and When Wanted for use may be drawn off the spool in such quantity as may be desirable, the spool freely rotating on its arbor to admit of such a removal of the yarn. The other spool is designed to carry linen thread, While in the apart-ment a buttons, wax, or various other small articles may be placed. The outer edge of the flap B may be provided with two elastic loops F F, which, when the flap is rolled around the metallic case, may be passed around the two, so as to keep the flap in its place or from unwinding.

The Workcase above described will bc found a very useful article for soldiers, seamen, or travelers, as it may be made of small dimensions, so as to be easily packed into a portmanteau, a soldiers knapsack, or a seamans bag. The yarn and thread spools, being fixed in place and capable of being revolved, prevent the yarn and thread on them from being lost or of getting dirty, tangled, or injured.

I claimd The improved travelers work-case or construction and arrangement of the rotary spool or spools and their arbor or its equiva lent, the metallic case and the Iiexible flap leaves or other devices for sustaining artiprovided with a scissors-sheath and needlecles useful for mending or making clothing.

THOMAS H. BURGESS.

Vitnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

